taintee



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

O. S; TAINTER.

GRAPHOPHONE. I No. 385,886. Patented July 18, 1888.

4 SheetsSheet 2 QNo Model.)

0. s. TAINTE-R.

GRAPHOPHONE.

Patented July 10,1888;

(N8 Modes 4 Sheets--Sheet 3.

8 O. S. TAINTER.

GRAPHGPHONE.

Patented July '10, 1888.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

G. S. TAINTER GRAPHOPHONE.

lllllb! lllllllllllllllllllllll/f/ five/"z v Patented July 10, 1888.

traces a spiral line upon the tablet. I let of wax the lines of the spiral can be made UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

' CHARLES SUMNER 'lAlN'llllt, 0h \VASl-UNGT-ON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

' G APHOPHONE.

SPECIPICAT ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,886, dated July 10, I888. \pplicalion Iiiell December .34. 1887. Serial No. $8.824. (X0 modem To (iZZ whom it may concern.-

'30 it known that I, CHARLES SUMNER Tain'ricn, of \Vashingtou, i-n the'Dist-rict of Columbia, have invented a new and useful rm. provcment in Graphophones, which improvement is'fnlly set forth in the follcwing specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for re to improve the construction of machines of this type and render-them better available for practical use than they are in the forms known at present.

' The tablet is preferably a thin layer of wax or a wax-like composition on a base of sheet metal or other suitable material. It rests on a disk-shaped tablet-holder supported on a vertical shaft, said tablct'holder being driven. by a friction-wheel making contact with its under surface. The tablet-holder and its shaftare so supported and connected with the driving mechanism that they are advanced slowly as the tablet rotates. 'lhe recorder therefore 7 on a tabvery rlo'setogether say oneoue hundred and fiftieth l part of an inch or less apart. The longitudinal movement of the tablet and its. holderis effected by means of a feedscrew and nut, as will bchereiuafter fully described. The recorder and reproducer are pivoted, rcspcct-ively, on opposite sides of the tablet,'so that when not in useeithcr instrument can timply be turned on its "pivot out of the way. This arrangementadds to the convenience in use of the machine, as it obviates the necessity of removing the recorder and substituting the reproduccr, or vice versa.

\Vhen in operation, the point 'of the recordingstyle rests just above the friction-\vheel that rotates the tablet, and the position of the reproduccr on the opposite side of the tablet is such that when loweredinto position its i style will rest upon the same point on the surface of the tablet. As the longitudinal travel of. the tablct'holder is very slow, it would 'require considerable time to-s'et it back'to the starting point if the more reversal of the main shaft w rerelied on for that operation. Consequently means have been provided whereby a rapid return of the tablet can be effected.

To this endthe arbor of the friction drivipg wheel is supported in bearings on a frame swivelcd on the main shaft and upheld by. spring-pressure; By depressing this frame the friction-wheel is rcinoved from .cont'a'zt with the tablet-holder, and at the same time the main-shaft is thrown into gear .with the feed screw (which in operation is stationary, the nut traveling wit-h the tabletholder) and imparts to said screwja rapid rotation, where by the feed-nut, and with it the tabletholder,

. is quickly moved back to the starting-point.

Means are also'provided whereby, when the starting-point is reachcd,the screw is atomatically arrested-,though the main shaft may continue to rotate; andby similar meansthe nut is arrested at the farther limit of its travel,

which is of course determined by the-diame ter of the tablet designed to be used. A partial depressionyof theswiveledframe diseon-' ducer from the tablet (should that instrument.

' be in its operative position) when said frame said mouthpiece can be turned in any-direction.

The invention comprises the new improvements above indicated as well as certain special features of construction and combinations and arrangement'of parts, as hereinafter fully de scribed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure I is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the llIVGIItlOI'HEFlg. II, a front elevation thereof; Fig. III, a vertical longitudinal section; Fig. l", a side elevation with the fly; wheel removed, and Fig. V a partial vertical section through the support of the reproducer.

A is the base or bed plate, and B B are tubular ways thereof in whi'cb'the ends of the slideQ are supported. Said slide has a bulb, 0, intermediate between its ends, in the top of which is screwed the hollow standard 2, in which turns the shaft d of thc'tablet-holder D. The latter is in the form of a flat disk. in.- side the tubular slide 0 is the feed-screw 15, which in the operation of recording and reproducing is stationary. The feed-nut F, which engages said screw, is inclosed in the bulb c. It turns in bearings formed by the sleeves 34, which are connected to the slide 0 by screws 5. 6. Feed-nut,F carries a beveled gear, 7, which engages a beveled gear, 8, on the lower end of shat't'd, the gear'S being connected with said shaftby a screw, 10, tapped into the end thereof. \Vhcn the tahletholder rotates, it turns the nut F through gears 7 and 8, and

the screw Ebcing stationarythe nut moves slowly length wise thereof, carrying with itthe slide 0 and all the parts carried thereby.

G and-H are standards or uprights. They are connected by a sleeve, '12, passing through tube 13 and adapted 'to turn therein. The sleeve 12 isin one piece with standard G, and is connected with standard H byscrews 59 and tic-rods 13 and 14. Tube B is disconnected from the base A at the rear side, and is provided with a clamp screw, 15, whereby itjcan be tightened around the sleeve 12, and thus hold the frame and all the operative parts rig-' idly in one position. By loosening said screw the machine can be tilted forward and backward'and clamped in the position that may be most convenient for the user. To prevent the slide 0 from tipping in its bearings, the end of said slide which enters the bearing B is grooved, and a spline, 19, which is attached to sleeve 12 by screws 29, enters said groove and prevents the slide 0 from turning independently of said sleeve 12.

' The main shaft I has hearings in the uprights G H, and it carries afly-wheel, K, and acrank-handlc, 1:, for turning. Shaft L has hearings in a frame, M, and it is rotated from the main shaft through spur-gears 16 and 17 and intermediary 18, the latterbeing mounted on a stud tapped into said frame. At thelcft end of shalt L is a friction-wheel, l, which bears onthc under side oftablet-holder D'and turns the same on its shaft (1.

The frame M is. swiveled on the main shaft at 20(see Fig. I) and can be lowered, so as to throw the friction-gear Z out of contact with the tablet-holder D, and thus arrest the mo tion of the latter.

The frame is normally held up by the pressure of spring 21, which bears atitslow'crendagainst upright(i.. Thespring is surrounded by a tube, 22, which presses against frame M.

Upright (i has arnis 24 and 25 projecting toward the front-and rear,'respectively, and these constitute the supports for the recorder N and reproducer 0'. I The frame'of recorder-IN has at its end'a sleeve, 26, which slips on the tubular support 27, which is carried by the arm 24. Sleeve 26 is connected. by a flexible tube, 28, with the sound-chamber of the recorder. Onthe right side of arm 24 is a bent tube, 30, which can turn in said arm, and anotherangular tube, 31, is cou'uectedwith'and can turnon the tube.30. The tubes .30 and- 31.constitutca: universal joint or socket for the mouthpiece of 'the recorder, which is adapted to be connected with.

the end, of tube 31. 'lhemouth-piece can thus be'turned in any direction to snitthe po sition of the user. It will be seen that a con tinuous sound-passage from mouth-piece to the diaphragm of the recorder is formed by the tubes" 30, B1, and 27, sleeve 26, and flexible tube28.

Heretofore flexible tubes have been employed to convey soundwaves to a diaphragm;

but these require to be held to the lips by hand. In the use of agraphophone itis often desirable that the hands should be free for other'purposes. Bythe construction described arigid connection between thediaphragh'i and 1 mouthpiece is provided, while at the sanie time the latter can be turned in any desired direction without disturbing the. position of the style.

The recorder can be turned bodily on sleeve 27 as a center to bring ,its style into cohtact with the tablet, as shown in Fig. II. or to turn it out of the way, as in Fig. 1V. \Vhcn-in its operative position, the point of the style rests on the tablet just above the friction-wheel Z.

The reproduccr O is mounted similarly to the recorder on a'tubular support, 35, carried by arm 25, and is held in piace by a screw,

39. A bifurcated socket piec'e, 36, conveys the sonorous vibrations to suitable hearingtubes, '38. Tubular support 35 has a perforation, 37, (see Fig. V,) through which it communicates with thehollowstandard of the reproducer when the latter is-in its operative position. When not in use and turned out of the way, this communication is cut OH. The

point of the reproducing-style, when in use,

.likewise rests just abovethe friction-wheel- Z. The relative positions of the recorder and reproducer are such that'if the former he raised and the latter lowered into position its style.

will touch thesame point on the tablet where that of the recorder rested.

The recording'tablet consists ofla thin layer, 40, oflwax or a wax-like composition upon a base or support, 41. (Shown as a disk.) It is preferred to make the base 41 of sheet metal, as other materials are more or less likely to warp. The edge of the disk 41 is turned up all around, and the wax melted and poured by cutting'or engraving therein, as described in the patentaforcsaid, itis obvious that the machine is also adapted to operate in connection with a recorder that producesa record by indenting in a pliable substance or by removing part of a thin film of lamp-black, or in any other practical way.

The construction of'the recorder and reproducer is or may be such as described in previous patents, and therefore needs no particular description here. I

\Vhen the slide 0 has reached the farther limit of its motion, as shown in Fig. ll, ,it can be quickly set; back to the starting-point by reversing mechanism which will now be described. An intermediary, .50, turns on a stud carried by upright H and gears with a pinion, 51, on the end of feed scrcw B. By depressingframe M, by pressing on button 52, the gear 17 is thrown into engagement with gear 50, and at the same time friction-wheel l is removed from tablct-holder D. Now, by turning the main shaft in the same direction as before the feed'screw E is driven at a high .s'peed, and as the nut F is stationary, owing to the disconnection of wheel Z and tabletholdcr D, the said nut is rapidly moved to the right, carrying with it the slide G and all the parts supported thereby. Pinion 51 is connected with the feed-screw only by friction produced by a spring-washer, 53, pressing it against screw 54.. This is sufficient to insure rotation of the feed-screw; but when the nut F reaches the limit of its return movement a pin, 60, carried thereby strikes a pin, 61, on said screw and'stops the rotation of thelat-ter, the pinion 50 now turning against the pressure of washer 53 independently of the screw. \Vhen the nut F reaches the limit of its travel to the lcft,-a pin, 63, strikes a pin, 64, on the feed-screw E, and the latter then turns with the former. lhe slide 0 is thus automatically arrested at bothlimits of its traveL,

Frame M has a backwardly and upwardly extending arm, 65, the 'end of which approaches close to the under side of the reproducer. If the latter be in its operative posi-. tion when the frame M is depressed to operate the reversing lllCGllttfllSlll,ll3 will be lifted by arm clear of the record. Frame M is, as

shown, provided. with two buttons, 52 and (i7, 7

for pressing with. the finger. If it be desired simply to stop the tablet without setting the 'it stationary.

is limited by contact with the tie-rod 13. By pressing button 52, however, the frame continues todescend after the end of shank 68 strikes the tie-rod, because said shank is not connected rigidly with the frame, but passes loosely through the same, as already stated. A. stopscrew, 66, passes through tie-rod 13 and limits the movement of frame M when pressed down by button 52.

As has been stated, in the operation of recording and reproducing the feed-Screw is stationary; but unless positively held it would be liable to be turned in its bearings by the friction of the feed-niit F. I To prevent this a locking-lever, 70, is pivoted at 72 to. the upright l ,(sec 1*ig. 1V,) and has a point, 71, which engages the teeth of wheel 50 and holds The locking device is held in this position byaspring, '3. Since pinion 5-1 on the feed-screw E is'engaged by wheel 50, the feed-screw is thus prevented from rotating. \Vhen, however, frame M is depressed to operate the reversing mechanism, an arm, 75, carried by said frame strikes the pivoted locking device 70 and releases the gear 50, so that when thelatter is engaged by gear 17 it is free to rotate.

In operation, the slide being at the righthand limit 01' its motion, as in Fig. Ill, the recorder is lowered until it restsupon the wax surface of the tablet. The maiii shaft being rotated, tablet-holder D is driven by frictionwheel Z, and in turn rotates t-he;feed-nut F, which is thus caused to advance slowly length wise offecd screw E, which is heldstationary by the engagement of locking-lever 70 with gear 50. 'lhepoint of therecorder therefore traces a volute or spiral line on the surface of. the tablet. As the tablet'holder I) continues to advance, the point of contactwith itof the friction wheel lgradually approaches its outer edge. Consequently the tablet-holder revolves more and more slowly; but the surface-speed tages are fully set forth in the patent hereinbetore referred to.

It. is obvious that modifications may be made in details of construction, and that parts of the in vention may be used without the whole withoutin cithercase departing from the spirit of the invention.

The Hat tablet herein shown and described forms the subject mat tor of my application No. 269,465, lilcdl-Xpril 3, 188$,and is not claimed herein.

ll'a-ving now fully described my said inven tion and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, what I claim is 1. la a graphophone, the co1nbination,with the tablet holder and means for rotating and advancing the same longitudinally, of the recorder and reproducer, each pivoted on suit able supports and adapted to be turned into and out of operative position, substantially as described.

and reproducing styles touch the tablet at the 5 one side of the tablet-holder,and a reproducer pivoted on the'oppositc side thereof,their relative positions being such that the recording same point, substantially as described.

3. In a graphophone, the combintitiomrvith the rotatory tablet-holder, the friction-wheel for driving the same, ing said tablet-holder longitudinally, of a re,-

corder pivoted to the frame and a reproducer' also pivoted to the frame, said recorder and reproducer being so disposed that'when either is in operative position. its style will rest on the tablet inst above said friction-wheel, substantially as described.

'4. In agraphophonc, the combinatiomwith the rotatory tablet-holder,of the friction-wheel for driving the same'and a tilting frame in which the arbor of said friction-wheel is journaled, substantially as and for the purpose described, v

5. In a graphophone, the combiuatiomwith the tablet-holder and means for rotating the same, means for disconnecting said nut from the driving-shaft and simultaneously connecting said screw therewith, substantially as described. i T

6. In a graphophone, the combination of the slide, the rotatory tablet-holder carried t ereby, the fccd-scrcw normal'ly stationary, the feed-nut connected to be advanced lengthwise of said screw by the rotation of said holder, and means for d isconnecting said tablet-holder from the driving-shaft and connecting the feedscrew therewith so as to reverse the movement of said nut, substantially as described. v

. 7. The combination of the slide, the tabletho-lder, the friction wheel for rotating the same, the tilting frame in which the 'arb'o'r of said friction-wheelis journaled, gearing for driving'the latter from the main shaft,the feedscrew normally stationary,:the feed-nut carried by said slide and connected by gearing with said tablet-holder, and gearing for connecting said feed-screw with said main shaft when said frame is moved to disengage the .tabl et holdcr and fllcliOn; wheel, substantially as described. I

8. In a graphophone,the combination of the slide, the tablet-holder carried thereby, the feed-nut and feed-screw, the driving mechanism, and stop-pins on said fgcd nut and screw, whereby the slide is automatically arrested at the limits of its travel, substantially as described. v

9. The combination of the slide, the rotatory tablet-holder, the reproducer, the feed nut and screw, mechanism for reversing the movement of said slide, the tilting frame for oper ating said reversing mechanism, and an arm and means for advanc-j of the feed-nut, the feed-screw, and.

carried by said slideland adapted to lift the reproduce'r from the tablet when said tilted, substantially as described. I

10. The combination of the slide, the tabletholder, the feed-screw, the feed-nut connected by gearing with said tablet-holder, a pinion loosely ,mounted on said feed-screw, aspringwasher for effecting a frictional connection between said screw and pinion, and stop-pins on said nut an'd'scre'w by engagement of which the screw-and out are connected together, sub stantially asdescribed.

,11. The combination of the slide, the tablet- -holder, the feed-screw supported in bearings the feed-nut connected by gear-'- in the frame, I ing with said'tablet 'holder, and the locking device for holding said feed-screw stationary, substantially as described. p i

12. The combination of the slide, thetablct-v holder, the feed-screw supported in bearings, the feed-nut rotated from said-tablet-holdcr,

, the locking device for holding said screw stationary, the tilting frame for disengaging said tablet-holder from the main shaft and connecting the feed screw therewith, and an arm,

frame is or projection adapted on the depression of said frame to disengage said locking device, substantially as described;

13. The combination of-the rotatory tabletholder, the feed screw agidnut for moving said tablet-holder longitudinally, atiltiug frame, a friction-wheel on an arbor having bearings insaid frame for rotating said-tablet-holder,

and reversing-gears adapted to be connected with the main shaft by said frame, all constructed and arrangedas set forth, so that the frame can be tilted to disconnect said frictionwheel and tablet-holder without; connecting said reversing-gear and main shaft, substantially as described.

' '-14. The combination of thetablet-holder, the

feed-nut connected by gearing with said an let-holder, the feed-screw normally stationary, the tilting frame, the friction-gear for rotating said tablet-holder,carried on an arbor having hearings in said frame, reversing-gears adapted to connect said screw and the main shaft when said frame is tilted, a button on said frame for tilting the same, and a second button on a shank passing loosely through said frame and having its end in close proximity to a fixed part of the apparatus,so that on pressing the latter button the frame will move only far enough to'disengage the tablet-holder ,and friction-gear without connecting in the reversing mechanism, substantially as described. 15. The combination, with the frame and recorder, of the rigid sound-conveying tube having several bentor angular sections jointed together, constituting in effect-a universal joint, whereby the position of a mouth-piece attached to said tube can be shifted vertically or laterally without disturbing the position of the style, substantially as described.

16. In a graphophone, the combination.-

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- IO ing witnesses.

Cl l ARLES S U M NEE 'LA INTER.

\Vitnesses:

PHILIP MAURO, G. E. HADLEY. 

